Bucs dropped ball too often
Orlando Pirates may have sealed a ninth visit to the final of the Telkom Knockout competition but have known mostly heartbreak in this tournament in the past.
The Buccaneers disposed of Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs at the weekend to seal their place in the December 8 decider in Port Elizabeth against surprise finalists Baroka FC‚ who have reached their first ever cup final.
Pirates will be overwhelming favourites given their form and the quality of their squad‚ but would do well not to look back in history for inspiration having had largely a torrid time in finals in a competition first played in 1982.
They first appeared in the final in 1987 but lost to Durban Bush Bucks in a decider that needed three attempts to get a winner.
After Pirates won the first leg 3-1 away they looked on course for the win‚ but Bush Bucks stormed back to win the second leg 2-0 for a 3-3 aggregate score. With no away goals in those days‚ the final went to a replay that was won 2-1 by the Durban side.
Pirates returned to the final in 1990‚ the last that was played over two legs‚ and this time went down 2-1 on aggregate to Mamelodi Sundowns.
Pirates were favourites going into the 1995 final against Wits University with a team that were league champions and on the cusp of claiming the Caf Champions Cup title.
But a goal just before halftime from Wits’ Benson Otiti sealed the unlikely triumph for The Clever Boys and extended the Pirates hoodoo in the competition.
In 2000 they came up against a young Ajax Cape Town and this time they appeared oddson for victory.
But after being held to a 1-1 draw in the final‚ a replay was
9 Times Bucs have made the final in the Telkom knockout over the years
needed and Ajax overwhelmed their more illustrious opponents to run out 4-1 winners‚ with Carlo Scott grabbing a brace. It remains to this day one of the biggest shocks in South African cup final history.
Pirates had the chance for revenge in 2008 when they met Ajax again in the final‚ but this time lost 2-1 as Mabhuti Khenyeza grabbed a brace for the Urban Warriors to make it no wins from five appearances in the decider for Pirates.
That was extended to six in the worst way possible when they were thumped 3-0 by Kaizer Chiefs in the final.
And so it went with the side riding a finals rollercoaster.